Spike.



B. R. WATSON.

SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8. I915.

1,163,962. Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

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BY RWH T s o N Wibvwoocn emit rs rcr ca BAZEL'R."WATSON, OF EVERETT, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 HARRY C. I -NELSON, OF EVERETT, WASHINGTON. T -I SPIKE.

Application filed January 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BAZEL R. WATSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spikes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in spikes, and re lates particularly to railroad spikes provided with means for clenching the spike in the tie, so that it will'not beliable to come loose.

The invention has for its primary object a very simple, durable, and efficient construction of spike of this character which is provided with a noved construction and arrangement of clencher which will not interfere at all with the driving of the spike into the tie but which, when the tie is in position, will so engage the wood as to render it practically impossible for the spike to be accidentally loosened by the jar and' pounding of the train wheels on the track rails. And the invention also aims to generally improve devices of this kind, so as to render them more useful and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangements of parts that I shall hereinafter more fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved spike, partly in section, the spike being shown in a. position where the clencher is just about to enter the wood. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the spike driven farther down into the tie, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clencher edge.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in all of the views of the accompanying drawing by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the spike proper, the same being of any desired construction or conventional or other design, except as hereinafter noted, and formed of malleable or wrought iron Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14,1915.

Serial No. 1,167.

or of any other suitable substance or material. It is formed in one or more sides (only one side in the present instance), with a longitudinally disposed groove or recess 2 which is curved, as shown, tapering toward both ends and being deepest at the middle, where it is provided with a socket 8 of any desired length and depth.

4 designates the clencher which is in the form of a bar made of any suitable substance or material as, for example, the same metal out of which the spike is formed, said clencher being preferably curved as a whole and tapered toward both ends. The clencher 4: is formed intermediate of its ends with a lug or projection 5. It is designed to be received in the groove or recess 2 with the lug 5 seated in the socket 3, and it is to be particularly noted that the shape of the clencher i is such that when one end is flush with the adjoining edge or side of the spike proper 1, the other end of the clencher will be projected therefrom.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing, operation of my improved railroad spike will be apparent. In the practical use of the device, the spike proper is first driven partly into the tie, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1, and the clencher is then dropped into place. The spike is then driven home, and as the clencher is mounted to rock freely in the recess or groove 2, it is obvious that the wood will, by engagement with the upper end of the clencher force the lower end thereof out and such end will turn up into effective clenching engagement with the tie. It is also to be particularly noted that the clencher and the recess in which it is mounted are some distance below the upper end or head of the spike, which end is solid so that there will be no space left for water to get in, any more than is the case with the ordinary spike heretofore used, for the clencher will go entirely below the upper surface of the tie. It is also to be noted that the size of the spike itself is not increased at all by my clencher attachment, but that the same size spike can be used with my invention embodied therein as without it.

While the accompanying drawing illus trates what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangements and propor-' prising a spike proper formed in one side with a longitudinally disposed recess tapered toward both ends and provided intermediate of its ends with a socket, and a clencher in said recess and having a lug mounted in the socket, the clencher being capable of a rocking movement in the recess with its ends alternately protruding therefrom, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A spike of the character described, comprising a spike proper formed in one side with a curved longitudinally disposed recess, formed intermediate of its ends with a socket, and a curved clencher in said recess and formed with a lug disposed in said socket, the clencher being adapted to rock in the recess, with its ends alternately protruding from the recess, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A spike of the character described including a spike proper, provided intermediate its length With a facial recess, the inner wall of which is coneaved, and a clencher seated in the recess, the inner edge of the clencher being arcuate, whereby the clencher is adapted to freely rock in the recess.

4. A spike of the character described including a spike proper, provided intermedi 1 ate its length with a facial recess having a concaved inner wall, and a clencher removably seated in the recess, said clencher being adapted to freely rock in therecess and having its rear edge in engagement with saidconcaved wall at all times. i

In testlmony whereof I hereunto my signature in the presence of two wltnesses.

BAZEL .R. WATSON.

Witnesses I WV. A. lens, ADA KNIGHT.

Copies of this patent .may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissionerof Patents. i

Washington, D. C. i 

